As they drew near the island they saw that it came from a golden
lantern hanging over the door of a hut, while sweet tinkling music
proceeded from some bells attached to the golden horns of a goat which
was feeding near the cottage. The young men's hearts rejoiced as they
thought that at last they would be able to rest their weary limbs, and
they entered the hut, but were amazed to see an ugly old woman inside,
wrapped in a cloak of gold which lighted up the whole house. They looked
at each other uneasily as she came forward with her daughter, as they
knew by the cloak that this was a famous witch.

'What do you want?' asked she, at the same time signing to her daughter
to stir the large pot on the fire.

'We are tired and hungry, and would fain have shelter for the night,'
answered the eldest brother.

'You cannot get it here,' said the witch, 'but you will find both food
and shelter in the palace on the other side of the lake. Take your boat
and go; but leave this boy with me--I can find work for him, though
something tells me he is quick and cunning, and will do me ill.'

'What harm can a poor boy like me do a great Troll like you?' answered
Pinkel. 'Let me go, I pray you, with my brothers. I will promise never
to hurt you.' And at last the witch let him go, and he followed his
brothers to the boat.

The way was further than they thought, and it was morning before they
reached the palace.

Now, at last, their luck seemed to have turned, for while the two eldest
were given places in the king's stables, Pinkel was taken as page to the
little prince. He was a clever and amusing boy, who saw everything that
passed under his eyes, and the king noticed this, and often employed him
in his own service, which made his brothers very jealous.

Things went on this way for some time, and Pinkel every day rose in the
royal favour. At length the envy of his brothers became so great that
they could bear it no longer, and consulted together how best they might
ruin his credit with the king. They did not wish to kill him--though,
perhaps, they would not have been sorry if they had heard he was
dead--but merely wished to remind him that he was after all only a
child, not half so old and wise as they.

Their opportunity soon came. It happened to be the king's custom to
visit his stables once a week, so that he might see that his horses were
being properly cared for. The next time he entered the stables the
two brothers managed